Can cushings cause red, bloodshot eyes?

[Joy]

Hello, I am new to this site. I have a 10 year old Boston Terrier with cushings. He's had it for about two years. He started out on the flax seed lignans and melatonin. Just recently went on Ketoconazole. Doing pretty well. He also is very allergic to protein in food and seasonal outside stuff. His eyes get very bloodshot. We think the bloodshot eyes are due to allergies but I remember reading that cushings can cause red eyes? Does anyone have any experience with this? I searched bloodshot eyes but didn't find much. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[littleone1]

Corky and I want to welcome the both of you.

Corky's had cushings for about 3 years now, and has never had red eyes due to cushings. Years before he had cushings, he had an infection in one of his eyes, and it was red. It's possible that it could be an infection or allergies.

Terri

[mypuppy]

Hi Joy,

Princess, my almost 9 year old chocolate lab, and I welcome you too to our forum and wonderful family. Your thread caught my attention because ever since we had our Princess (at 3 months of age), she has always had bloodshot eyes. I always told my husband, "her eyes don't seem right because they are so red all the time", and all the vets she has seen throughout her life with us has said the same, but they have never been able to pinpoint the problem. I do know she suffers from dry eye syndrome and has to be given tracolimus eyedrops twice daily, but I don't see that has made any improvement with the redness whatsoever. I am dumbfounded myself why her eyes are always red. I switched her food a few months ago to grain free and didn't notice a difference with the red eyes, but did see a difference with the gunkiness that used to come out of her eyes while she was on grain food. I have never read anywhere that red eyes was a symptom with cushings, so I am very interested in learning which website you picked that up from? My Princess was also diagnosed almost 2 years ago, and is being treated with Vetoryl twice daily. I look forward to learning more on your precious Boston, they are precious to me, for a special reason, but then again they all are, but I am glad to see you on and experience the JOY of our happy, loving family here.

Warmest regards and tight hugs to you and your pup..

xo Jeanette and Princess

[labblab]

Abnormally elevated adrenal hormones can be associated with high blood pressure which, in turn, can cause redness of the eyes. So that may be the "Cushing's connection" that you have heard about. But allergies definitely can be the culprit, as you already know.

Is there a pattern to your dog's red eyes -- are they red in conjunction with other typical symptoms of allergies, or not necessarily? You could always ask to have his blood pressure checked when you see your vet next.

Can you tell us some more about your dog's initial diagnostic testing and also his symptoms? Are you seeing improvement and do you have the results of any subsequent tests? Any additional info will help us give you our most accurate feedback.

Marianne

[Joy]

Thanks for all the info. Will definitely have vet check blood pressure just to rule out. Think his bloodshot eyes are probably due to allergies as increase in allergy meds and Atopica seem to help. Vet said the allergies have been really bad here in Delaware these past few weeks. If eyes don't improve with colder weather, off to the eye specialist we will go. I don't remember where I read about bloodshot eyes and Cushings but I think it was in relation to the blood pressure issue and elevated hormones. Thanks again for help.

[Joy]

Regarding, Tony's (boston terrior) initial diagnosis, it was atypical cushings. He had that for about 2 years and then went into full blown cushings. His major symptoms are a bloated belly, excessive thirst, anxiety, and panting. The anxiety and panting has improved on meds. but his belly is still pretty full and he does drink alot. I really trust my vet so I don't get much into the technicalities of this disease. Need to be better educated and learn more about the appropriate hormone levels. Know a little about the drugs. Some of them are scary. Hopefully, he can stay on the anti-fungal and natural drugs.

[lulusmom]

Can you tell us what treatment your vet has prescribed for your dog? If he is still drinking and peeing a lot and his pot belly has not improved, it sounds like his cortisol is not where it needs to be. When was the last time your vet did an acth stimulation test and can you please post the results here for us? Did your vet diagnose pituitary or adrenal dependent cushing's?

I'm glad to hear that you are interested in learning more about the disease. We have a wealth of information in our Helpful Resources section and a whole lot of collective experience here so you've come to the right place to learn. Ask as many questions as you want. It's a difficult disease to wrap your head around but it's truly worth the effort. Cushing's is one canine condition that requires an experienced vet and an educated pet owner. If either is missing, a dog is more likely to run into problems. The best advice for anyone with a cushdog is learn as much as you can about the disease and whatever treatment has prescribed so that you can be the best possible advocate for your dog.

We'll be looking forward to hearing more about your baby.

Glynda

[Joy]

Hi, my name is Joy and my boston terrier, Tony has had cushings for three years now. He is eleven years old. He started out on the melatonins/lignans therapy and did well for about 2-1/2 years but then started to need stronger meds. The vet put him on vetroyl, first 30mg then up to 60 mg. He weighs 25 lbs. It helped for awhile but for the last month, Tony has been showing signs of muscle weakness, trembling, not being able to jump up, and generally pretty miserable and lethargic. To complicate matters further he has a bum eye that the eye doctor thinks is due to either auto immume disease or a tumor behind his eye. He had an MRI for this and it showed nothing. So we are trying to rule out his symptoms to either be cushings or eye related. I truly think that his problems are with his cushings with either the medicine not working or maybe he's getting too much medicine. The vet and I are pretty much guessing at treatment with trial and error methods. We are now cutting the Vetroyl down to 30 mgs for two weeks to see if this helps. I just hate to put this dog through so much and it's hard to see him so unlike himself. I guess my question is has anyone had a similar experience or maybe this is it for Tony and the cushings is just taking its natural course? Any information would be greatly appreciated. I am not sure how this thread thing works. How do I get to my thread? Thanks much for any help. BTY, Tony, labs all came back normal on the Vetroyl. Also Tony's appetite is normal, and no vomiting or diahrrea.

[Nikki]

Just wanted to say hi!! I'm a fellow Boston Terrier owner too :). Maxwell, who is 8, has a lot of similar symptoms. He stopped being able to jump about a year ago, he has the muscle trembling, etc. He is a totally different dog than he was 4 years ago. I don't have much helpful knowledge, but I did want to say hi!

[Joy]

Hi Nikki, It's good to know I'm not alone here. Been feeling pretty sad lately about my dog lately and it's nice to know that someone understands. Thanks

[Joy]

Sorry, too many lately's in the above reply!!!:D

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi Joy,

I have merged your post today with Tony's original thread.

It would help us a GREAT deal if you could get copies of all the testing that Tony has had done - from the beginning - and post them here. It is very difficult to give meaningful insights without seeing what those results are. ;) Also, to repeat a question Glynda asked, has your vet told you whether Tony has the adrenal or pituitary form?

Just an FYI - the University of TN, who does the research and testing for Aypical, does not recommend Trilostane (Vetoryl) for Atypical pups. However, vets do use it in Atypicals and many of them seem to do fine. My Squirt is Atypical and when her cortisol started climbing, Lysodren was my preference since Trilostane has been shown to further elevate the intermediates and the lignans/melatonin regime had lowered those for her. Didn't make sense to me to add something that has the potential to increase them again. ;)

It would really, really, help to see those test results from UT plus all the other diagnostic testing and subsequent monitoring tests (ACTH).

Good to hear from you again tho I wish it was with a better report.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

[Joy]

Hi Leslie, Tony has pituitary cushings and he started out being atypical then went to full blown cushings so the vetroyl is ok for him in respect to him not being atypical anymore. My question is, how do I get the labs from the vet without insulting him? Especially since I am having the labs reviewed by non-vet people? He's going to think I'm a nut job and I don't want to cause any problems in our relationship which has been pretty good so far with the exception that my dog is not doing well. That's why I asked the question does it get to a point where the meds don't work and nature just takes it course? I guess with me requesting the labs I am questioning his treatment which so far has been pretty good except for these past few weeks. How do I do this diplomatically?

[addy]

I'll chime in here.

" Call the front desk. Ask them to send you a copy of the tests done on your dog because you want to keep a file at home in case of emgergencies.

Honestly, I have never had anyone have a problem seding me copies of Zoe's tests. Her opthalmologist does it automatcially without me even asking.

I dont think you should feel funny about it and I do think you need to keep a file at home regardless.

Did I forget to tell you welcome?:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Also- bloodshot eyes- I just went through a whole big deal about blood shot eyes, conjunctivitis, crystals, many eyes issues with my pup. One of the causes of her inflammation has been connected to her condition- Cushings- per her eye vet.

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi,

Atypical means that there are elevation in what are called the intermediate hormones. Just because the cortisol also may elevate in time does not mean those intermediates have gone back to normal. When was the last time she had bloodwork sent to the Uni of TN?

This is how I see it - those records are yours, you paid for them. What you want to do with them is your business. We have heard of vets that asked for a fee to have the copied but by law they are yours (in most states). I tell our vets, and it's the truth for us, that I want to have all Squirt's records in hand should we ever need to see another vet for any reason - traveling, emergency when their office is closed, etc. The last time I got Squirt's records when we moved, the file was over an inch thick and no one said a word. ;) Well, our new vet said something about a "novel". :p Our IMS just sent her latest lab work to me in the mail with no charge and no problem. So you never know unless you ask and most vets are happy to comply. They see it as an involved and proactive parent, not one who is questioning them.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

[Joy]

Ok, thanks for all input. I like the emergency excuse for getting the records. I think my vet is a bit of a primadonna. I have to handle him carefully, sheesh, with all I pay he should be handling me! Anyway I will get the records and get them up here within the next few days. Thanks to all!

[Joy]

Just had the major test done last month and sent to Univ. of TN. Vet said everything came back normal. But I have read that you can have normal results but still have symptoms. My vet once told me that you really have to know how to read the results because he was in disagreement with Tony's eye doctor who said that Tony's cushings wasn't controlled very well. This was before he went on the Vetroyl. My vet said something about the results can say one thing but mean another or else you have to take into consideration other factors. I really didn't understand what he was trying to say but I have always wondered which doctor knows what he is doing! I hate this disease because I don't understand it and don't have to time or inclination to become a cushings expert. Isn't this what we depend on the vets to do? Drat, I hate the thought of changing doctors. Sigh. Anyway, I guess that's why I'm seeking outside information. Thanks so much for support.

[molly muffin]

Hi Joy,
I told my vet that I was going to start a file on Molly that I'd keep at home and would want all testing results copied to me. What if something happened, and even if we travel with her, then the file would go along for the trip.

My vet was perfectly fine with that (although I did find out later, that is is within their code of ethics that they have to provide all files if requested to the owner). :)

Vets can totally get all primadonna on you. Horrible to have to handle them with kid gloves. Hopefully yours will just see the sense in your having your own emergency file and no big deal will be made about it.

If that happens, feel free to come here and just vent your heart out! We'll stand by you.

I know it is so hard when you are worried sick about your little ones.

Hugs,
Sharlene